BHUBANESWAR: With large parts of north, central and eastern India in the grip of merciless heat wave, Odisha continued to be seared as the mercury rose to alarming levels on Saturday. The India Meteorological Department’s forecast for Sunday placed the State in “most vigil” category which necessitates preventive action by the Government.
On the day, at least four stations recorded 46 degree Celsius or more and reports of more deaths kept coming in. So pervading was the heat wave that all the regions of the State were in its clutches. As many as 19 stations reported more than 40 degree Celsius.
Nuapada continued to be the hottest place with the maximum day temperature standing at 46.5 degree C. Titlagarh followed with 46.2 degree Celsius while Bhawanipatna and Jharsuguda recorded 46 degree C each.
The Capital City recorded 42.7 degree Celsius, which was six degree above normal and two degree higher than Friday. The mercury is expected to touch 44 degree C in next 24 hours.
With the heat wave unwavering, the unofficial death toll rose to 26 in the State while the Government said no sunstroke death has been officially confirmed yet.
The weather office said, a couple of places received marginal rainfall on the day but most parts of the State cried for relief which is unlikely to come anytime soon. The weather outlook said that Odisha could get moderate rainfall around June 6 after which temperature might witness a downward trend.
Heat Wave Continues in State
“There is no hope of any relief before second week of June. The prevailing conditions will linger and people are advised to take precautionary measures because a prolonged heat wave can prove disastrous,” said the met office sources.
While the blistering conditions affected normal life with people remaining indoors during the afternoon hours, the State Government asked the districts to remain prepared to meet the exigencies. Both government and private hospitals reported a steady stream of patients affected by the hot and humid conditions which cause serious dehydration.
In the last four days, as many as 295 people were treated for heat wave attacks. On Saturday alone, 53 persons were admitted in different hospitals, the Public Health Directorate said.
Even the Wildlife Wing of the Forest and Environment Department issued advisories to the wildlife wardens to keep a watch on animal mortality and the water sources.
“We have asked the field officers to even ferry water to salt licks from the perennial streams inside the forest areas,” said Chief Wildlife Warden SS Srivastava. Similarly advisories were issued to the zoos.